Truck crash and fire closes Mass Pike in Palmer

PALMER, Mass. (MyFoxBoston.com) -- A truck crash and subsequent fire closed the Massachusetts Turnpike in Palmer on the westbound side on Tuesday, according to Massachusetts State Police.

A flatbed truck hauling concrete caught fire after the crash, and flames spread from the road to the trees and drainage system next to the highway, police said. The eastbound side of the Turnpike was also closed briefly while firefighters battled the flames, but has since been reopened.

The fire was extinguished but westbound traffic was diverted at Exit 9. At 4 p.m., the right and breakdown lanes of the westbound side of the highway opened to traffic, with state police tweeting that the left lane would stay closed "for several hours" as officers investigated the crash.